Point-of-care technologies for molecular diagnostics using a drop of blood

Highlights • We discuss the frontiers of POC diagnostic technologies using a drop of blood obtained from a finger prick. • A great challenge is still required to develop simple, inexpensive, rapid, and easy-to-use technologies for blood molecular diagnostics. • Proteins, nucleic acids, and other molecules, as well as downstream molecular analyses based on cancer cells isolated from the blood are surveyed for molecular diagnostics in a drop of blood. • Various technologies, including emerging biotechnologies, nanotechnologies, and microfluidics, hold the potential for rapid, accurate, and nonexpensive disease diagnostics.